Box Score ABILENE, Texas – Ashley Elrod's 14 kills and 16 digs led the Northwestern State volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-12, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16) victory over Southland Conference newcomer Abilene Christian Thursday evening at Moody Coliseum.
 
With the win, the Lady Demons improve to 15-10 overall, 11-2 in the league and force the Wildcats to fall to 6-17, 2-10.
 
"We had a great overall offensive effort," said fourth year co-head coach Hugh Hernesman. "We've been emphasizing out-of-system attacking and reducing our errors in those situations. I was pretty happy with how we executed offensively outside of the secnd set."
 
After completely dominating in set one and then being overpowered in set two to enter the break tied at one, NSU put up two 25-16 performances to continue its mark of the best conference season in program history.
 
In set three, both teams traded points until the Lady Demons took control and put together two, three-point runs to take a 15-9 lead. The Wildcats chipped away at the board until NSU stopped them at 15 with a massive seven-point run, a game-high, to put ACU at an arm's length.
 
A tie at 4-4 in the fourth and final set of the night would be the closest the Wildcats would come to evening the score with the Lady Demons. Northwestern State began building a strong lead from there, including six-straight points to end the game.
 
Elrod's numbers marked her ninth double-double of the season, followed by double-digit kill numbers from Mackenzie Neely (12) and Caiti O'Connell (10). Neely also posted a season-high five service aces to account for the team's seven overall on the night.
 
Setter Emily Johnson recorded massive numbers as well, dishing out 23 assists and 20 digs, also marking her eighth double-double of the season. Natalie Jaeger contributed 21 assists and seven digs to aid in NSU's performance.
 
Libero Keelie Arneson just missed on a double-double, digging up 21 Wildcat attacks and aiding on nine kills. Glynna Johnson led from the middle, putting up four total blocks while knocking down eight kills.
 
"Mackenzie was a solid point scorer for us and her serve run in the middle of the 3rd set virtually won that set for us," said Hernesman. "I thought EJ (Emily Johnson) played outstanding defense. Our scheme put her in a position to make a lot of plays and she delivered."
 
"It was also real nice to see Ashley get it going again. She had a solid offensive performance and made the most of her defensive opportunities." 
 
 
The Lady Demons continue on the road to San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday to face another league newcomer, Incarnate Word, at 2:00. They will remain away next week with matches at New Orleans and Southeastern before hosting Central Arkansas in the last home game of the season on Nov. 12 at seven o'clock in Prather Coliseum.